James Tapscott

I WAS BORN AND LIVE...

I was born in Perth, where I also studied art (at Curtin University) before moving to Melbourne in 2002.

I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHING...

I love working with light at the environment. I consider myself a land artist essentially, using light as my most common tool for expression and manipulation of (a) space. Photography is a great auxiliary tool, not just for documentative reasons, but to create works in their own right. I especially love its ability to freeze time, allowing the viewer to expand it again, within their own time, often injecting a narrative to the image.

I WAS TRAINED....

I originally studied painting at University and worked as a painter for around 10 years before moving on to larger scale, light and land based works – very different stuff! This was brought about largely by travel experiences and seeing a wider approach to art, in both the making and experiencing of it.

I LIKE TO WORK...

I like to work in situ, on sites I am quite familiar with so I have a greater understanding of how to interact with them and create a work. This often takes many visits to the same location, a few camping trips etc.

I DECIDED TO BECOME AN ARTIST WHEN...

I guess I always have been…

IF (FOR SOME HORRIBLE REASON) I COULDN’T BE AN ARTIST, I WOULDN'T MIND BEING...

A pilot… What better way to make a living than flying around in the air!